DATE: Thursday, September 18, 1997          TAG: 9709180358

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

COLUMN: FISHING ON THE OUTER BANKS

SOURCE: DAMON TATEM

                                            LENGTH:   52 lines

BILLFISHING IS OUTSTANDING OFF HATTERAS

Billfishing was great off Hatteras behind the rockpile Wednesday.

Releases included three sailfish by the Citation; two sailfish each by the Luck Chip, the Release, the Sea Creature, the Miss Edie and the Marlin Mania; and two sailfish and two white marlin by the Top Billin'.

Also released were a sailfish, a blue marlin and two white marlin by the Gambler and one sailfish each the Hatteras Blue, the Wahoo and the Harpers Folly. Dolphin and wahoo fishing also were good in the area.

Blue water action was a bit slow off Oregon Inlet. Scattered dolphin and a few tuna were landed. Billfish releases included two white marlin by the Smoker, a white marlin and a blue marlin by the Suspense, and a blue marlin by the Hooker.

Inshore trolling off Oregon Inlet was good Wednesday, with plenty of Spanish mackerel and albacore taken.

Bottom fishing in the surf along the northern beaches and around Oregon Inlet was good on high tide. A few trout were hauled in just before dawn north of Kitty Hawk Pier.

Small bluefish, mullet, spot and a few Spanish mackerel were taken by surfcasters from Rodanthe to Buxton.

Scattered sea mullet, gray trout and flounder were landed in the surf near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. A few Spanish mackerel, bluefish and albacore were beached at Cape Point.

Fishing was slow along the beach from Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet, although lots of Spanish mackerel were seen jumping in the area.

Wednesday's light winds, calm seas and clear water resulted in a continuation of Tuesday's slow pier fishing along the northern beaches.

A few Spanish mackerel were landed early in the morning on Kitty Hawk Pier. Avalon Pier reported several Spanish mackerel, some albacore, small flounder and a few small pompano taken.

A few Spanish mackerel and a few keeper flounder were caught during the day on Nags Head Pier. Anglers on Jennette's Pier reported slow fishing during the morning. Some spot were decked during the afternoon.

Fishing was slow on Outer Banks Pier, with only a few small flounder and a few pompano taken.

On Hatteras Island, a few albacore, Spanish mackerel and bluefish were caught during the morning on Rodanthe Pier. Spanish mackerel and albacore hit well in the afternoon. Most of the fish were taken on Sting Silvers or white jiggers.

Fishing was slow all day on Avon Pier, with only scattered small flounder taken. Frisco Pier also reported little action. A few keeper flounder, Spanish mackerel and albacore were landed.

The water temperature was 76 degrees Wednesday at the Army Corps of Engineers Pier in Duck, and 77 degrees at Frisco Pier on Hatteras Island.

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